Standardized test scores

I have a question regarding the ACT. I just received my scores and while decent scores on Math and Reading (31, 32) I bombed the English and scored a 24. I do not know what happened or if I was just nervous and what not. So my question is will the academy still consider me and wait and let me send in my new scores next fall before labeling my as uncompetitive?

I have a question regarding the ACT. I just received my scores and while decent scores on Math and Reading (31, 32) I bombed the English and scored a 24. I do not know what happened or if I was just nervous and what not. So my question is will the academy still consider me and wait and let me send in my new scores next fall before labeling my as uncompetitive?

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You can retake the ACT as many times as you can afford. USAFA superscores which means they bank your highest score on each of the subtests. The 24 is below minimum (if I recall correctly), but retaking it and earning a higher score on the English portion wilol help. Also, some students do better on the SAT so investigate taking that one as well. Get an ACT/SAT prep book or take a prep class (if you can afford one) before you take the test again. Best wishes.

I have a question regarding the ACT. I just received my scores and while decent scores on Math and Reading (31, 32) I bombed the English and scored a 24. I do not know what happened or if I was just nervous and what not. So my question is will the academy still consider me and wait and let me send in my new scores next fall before labeling my as uncompetitive?

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The Academy will let a Candidate submit their scores as many times as they want (until the cut-off date) and will super score their results to use when calculating your official score.

Super Score means that if a candidate retakes the ACT test again and gets: 32 Math 30 Reading and 30 English, that they will use the 32 Math score from their second test result, the 32 English from their first test results, and the 30 English from their second test results. The Candidate's official score used would be 32 Math 32 Reading and 30 English.

USAFA looks at all four ACT scores however...the two most important are Math and English. But do NOT let that make you think those other two are not important...USAFA does have a "min" standard for each test (not releasable by me, please don't ask) that if you happen to find on their website or elsewhere in this forum...

Steve
USAFA ALO
USAFA '83

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A Candidate should also take the SAT as some people do better one "the other" test.

I agree with Blackbird. To the best of my knowledge, 2017's portals didn't really open up until July 1st or so, it could benefit you greatly to take a June ACT or SAT.
You know what you need to work on, so practice the English part a lot more than others, but don't totally ignore the other sections.

I agree with Blackbird. To the best of my knowledge, 2017's portals didn't really open up until July 1st or so, it could benefit you greatly to take a June ACT or SAT.

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As a c/o 2017 appointee as well, I second that. I remember mine opening on July 1st. Take the June test (but! Don't let the end of the year slums take away from your scores. I learned the hard way....)

I have a question regarding the ACT. I just received my scores and while decent scores on Math and Reading (31, 32) I bombed the English and scored a 24. I do not know what happened or if I was just nervous and what not. So my question is will the academy still consider me and wait and let me send in my new scores next fall before labeling my as uncompetitive?

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You have an option of buying the exact test you took on SOME of the ACT tests during the year with your scored answers. That is the well worth the money and effort. Most people don't realize this.

But hone into the English section before you re-take the test. There are all kinds of resources. But I second the Kaplan recommendation. Confidence helps you do better. feel more confident on that English section before you re-try. My DS was NOT a fast test taker and the Kaplan help him with that problem. With their efficiency techniques, it raised him up 6 points. So Kaplan also teaches you techniques on how to get though the problems quicker. English was also his weak suite and Kaplan brought it up a lot.

+1 for the course. The whole ACT exam process is a game. Understanding each section of the exam and how they are built plus some relatively simple strategies to play the game can result in improved scores.

Also here are a few other ways to improve ACT scores that our family found to be true. For instance DS did not do the Writing section since USAFA did not require it. Having one less section did reduce stress and increase focus on the remaining sections.

On a lighter note... Near the bottom of one of the pages linked above, there is a company tying to solicit your business for SAT prep. Here is the exact text:

Education is our part of life. If we need to Change our own Future we must educated Every person.
SAT is on of part of this. If you Think College Addmission in USA you must perpared for SAT EXAM.
If you want to prove own, you must go for a SAT course and we can help any kind of students for prepare SAT Exam.
Our SAT courses are top-of-the-line...

On a lighter note... Near the bottom of one of the pages linked above, there is a company tying to solicit your business for SAT prep. Here is the exact text:

Education is our part of life. If we need to Change our own Future we must educated Every person.
SAT is on of part of this. If you Think College Addmission in USA you must perpared for SAT EXAM.
If you want to prove own, you must go for a SAT course and we can help any kind of students for prepare SAT Exam.
Our SAT courses are top-of-the-line...

My DS used John Baylor to prep for ACT. Money well spent. We used his one on one tutoring which really pushed DS's score up. Good luck!

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Like your DS, mine too an ACT prep class. He raised it several points. As Blackbird said, it's the game that people need to play. IMHO, there is way WAY WAY too much emphasis placed on the stinken test score.

I'd love to see how an ACT test score correlates to brain power, retention, future college GPA, etc. There is a correlation of course. But I think it is completely overrated. For instance the difference between a 30 and 33. While the percentiles are far apart, I'd bet the correlation to the things I mentioned above are too close to worry about. I'm not saying I have a better solution on the top of my head but it wouldn't take me long to develop a better way (albeit more expensive).

is that it levels the playing field for those evaluating credentials. They say its impossible to know enough of any school curriculum's worth inclusive of the Districts Profile. Grades are different numbers over many Districts, NHS is gotten at different levels in different Districts/States, etc etc etc. But, the leveler is the College Entrance Exams. Everyone who takes them levels the playing field on a large basis to all other test takers. Rightly or wrongly it is a point, and it seems to something most Academy and higher education institutions feels is worthy of a piece of the overall evaluation process.

A Policy Analysis Study published in 2006 looked at a variety of entrance criteria for USAFA cadets. The purpose of the study was to identify criteria used for entrance to USAFA that had a statistically significant positive correlation with the same cadets later graduating from USAFA.

The study found that the most statistically significant factors for graduating were (in no particular order):

SAT/ACT score

Boys/Girls State participation

CFA score

Receiving a Superintendent nomination

Having a parent who graduated from USAFA

Having a sibling at USAFA or who has graduated from USAFA

I don't know how relevant the data is in 2013, but it does provide some support for continued use of the ACT/SAT. Other criteria was also found to be statistically significant but with a lower level of significance (pg. 15 of the study). I found the reading interesting, but then I'm like that. . .

You can retake the ACT as many times as you can afford. USAFA superscores which means they bank your highest score on each of the subtests. The 24 is below minimum (if I recall correctly), but retaking it and earning a higher score on the English portion wilol help. Also, some students do better on the SAT so investigate taking that one as well. Get an ACT/SAT prep book or take a prep class (if you can afford one) before you take the test again. Best wishes.

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ACT limits the number of attempts at 12, do not beleive SAT has a limit.

It is my understanding that USAFA also has varying mins. depending on subject. I also have been told that they do super score, but only on tests where you are qualifying in every section. The source is very reliable but it's been a while since I heard that so I very well could be imagining it haha